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Esprit has filed for bankruptcy protection for its U.S. subsidiaries, Esprit US Distributions Ltd. (USDS) and Esprit US Retail Inc. (USRI), according to Fashion United. The move follows Esprit’s bankruptcy filings for its European businesses in May 2024 , for the second time in four years, citing “extremely high costs due to inflation, interest rates and energy prices, the after-effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the consequences of international conflicts.
Woolworths Group enjoyed higher sales in the fiscal first quarter brought by higher revenue across all its segments. The group’s sales grew 4.5 per cent to $18 billion as its Australian food segment increased 3.8 per cent to $13.6 billion and Australian B2B segment rose 6.9 per cent to $1.47 billion. Its New Zealand food segment went up 1.4 per cent to $1.93 billion, while W Living soared 17 per cent to $1.36 billion, reflecting its acquisition of Petstock in January.
For today’s consumers, price and availability aren’t just practical considerations, they are foundational elements of trust. As shoppers seamlessly transition between online and in-store experiences, they expect consistency in pricing and reliable information about product availability. However, our recent surveys highlight that many brands and retailers are still grappling with discrepancies and stock issues, which can erode consumer confidence and loyalty.
Marks & Spencer plans to install self-checkout POS stations in the changing rooms in its 180 clothing stores, according to the Telegraph and other news outlets. The UK retailer already has deployed the changing room checkouts in 28 refurbished stores, including its Fosse Park flagship in Leicester, and plans to have the technology installed in more than 100 stores by 2028.
Speaker: Matt Sunshine, CEO at The Center for Sales Strategy
AI isn’t replacing salespeople—it’s empowering them. The most forward-thinking sales organizations are using AI to enhance human performance rather than eliminate it. From coaching and messaging to prospecting and pipeline accountability, artificial intelligence is giving managers and SDRs the new tools they need to work smarter, sell better, and close more.
The events of this week have brought the state of bricks-and-mortar in Australia’s rag trade into focus. If we let it, the voluntary administration of Mosaic Brands can show us the downside of having a large store network while the sale of Premier Investments’ Apparel Brands can show us the upside. The role of bricks-and-mortar sometimes gets lost by investors, shareholders and executives when examining the balance sheets of these rag trade giants.
Financial services company Hilco Global and asset management firm TPG Angelo Gordon have formed a new joint venture (JV), with the goal of acquiring and financing consumer brands and IP in partnership with brand management firm Bluestar Alliance. Just last month, Bluestar acquired luxury streetwear brand Off-White from LVMH , and one of the JV’s first moves will be to co-invest an undisclosed amount in the Off-White brand.
Seeing your physical retail as your most manageable, tangible and measurable channel has never been more important. The ability to meet a customer regardless of where that person is on their path to purchase with you has always been easier and more effective in-store than online. Not only will a strong physical presence increase conversion online by up to 30 per cent, it will always outperform when it comes to conversion, with the ability to turn on more senses, spark emotions and give immediate
Seeing your physical retail as your most manageable, tangible and measurable channel has never been more important. The ability to meet a customer regardless of where that person is on their path to purchase with you has always been easier and more effective in-store than online. Not only will a strong physical presence increase conversion online by up to 30 per cent, it will always outperform when it comes to conversion, with the ability to turn on more senses, spark emotions and give immediate
Avon is mulling more franchise stores as it expands its physical retail partnership with Superdrug across the UK. The cosmetics company’s global chief executive Kristof Neirynck said it was seeking to expand its standalone shops throughout the UK run by Avon sales representatives on a franchise model, Retail Week reported. Additionally, Avon has expanded its tie-up with Superdrug in the UK, with its products set to be sold in 650 of 830 of its stores by the end of 2024.
Tasmanian-born healthy-eating restaurant chain Liv Eat has unveiled its first restaurant in South Australia. Liv Eat has 18 restaurants in its network, predominantly across Tasmania , with restaurants at Melbourne and Sydney Airports, and now Adelaide. The Pulteney Street, Adelaide, store is helmed by franchisee Bec Noble. She brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to her new role, including 21 years as a restaurant general manager with Yum!
Lindt & Sprüngli , the globally renowned Swiss chocolate maker, has announced it will open its first-ever UK flagship store and immersive chocolate experience in Spring 2025. Located directly beneath the iconic Piccadilly Lights in central London, this new location aims to bring a unique chocolate-themed destination to the city, combining Lindt’s beloved products with an interactive, experiential twist.
The fashion industry is no longer just under-appreciated, it is in an undeclared war. What is it about fashion brands that make them the target of more greenwashing claims than just about any other industry? Do fashion labels make themselves easy targets by setting unrealistic goals and making outlandish claims? Is it because the environmental, social and economic impacts of their massive and far-flung supply chains are harder to measure and easier to cover up?
The rapid rise of AI-powered displays, touchless technology, and sensory marketing is reshaping the future of in-store engagement. Yet for many retail executives, the real challenge is not identifying new tools - it is knowing which signals to trust, which inputs to prioritize, and how to architect decisions that elevate in-store leadership rather than dilute it.
Britain’s biggest supermarkets face paying an extra £200m in National Insurance contributions as the Chancellor is set to unveil the hike in the Budget tomorrow. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons could be hit with an incremental tax bill from a two-percentage point hike in employer National Insurance contributions, Sky News reported. One analyst estimated that Tesco, which employs around 300,000 people in the UK, could be facing £75m added to its bill.
Universal Store Holdings enjoyed significantly higher direct-to-consumer sales in the first 17 weeks of the fiscal year, with Perfect Stranger leading the growth. The group’s D2C sales surged 19.3 per cent year on year, with Perfect Stranger soaring 111.1 per cent. Universal Store sales increased 15.5 per cent while Cheap Thrills Cycle jumped 7.4 per cent.
TFG London, owner of Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight fashion brands, is pleased to announce the acquisition of British fashion and lifestyle retailer, White Stuff. White Stuff was founded in 1985 and specialises in unique, thoughtfully designed clothing and accessories for women, men and children. White Stuff is a growth business and has 113 stores and 46 concessions in the UK, with a strong new store opening pipeline.
Dreams has announced the opening of its new premium concept store in East Sheen, marking a key milestone in the company’s growth and expansion strategy. The East Sheen location is the first of its kind, introducing a boutique-style experience tailored for smaller high street sites while reflecting the brand’s focus on a more premium, personalised shopping journey.
When culture isn’t consistently lived out across the organization, engagement suffers—and it often starts with a disconnect at the top. In this session, Beth Sunshine, SVP of Up Your Culture at The Center for Sales Strategy, will reveal how HR and executive leaders can close the gap between vision and execution by equipping frontline and mid-level managers to become culture carriers.
Jollyes has strengthened its executive team as it ramps up its growth strategy, with a spree of new hires from retailers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Card Factory and Hobbycraft. The pet retailer has poached Card Factory chief commercial officer Adam Dury to be its first chief operating officer, effective from January. Dury, who has also worked in commercial roles at Tesco and M&S, will join the Jollyes board along with recently appointed chief financial officer Richard Willan, who join
Award-winning pet retailer Jollyes today announces that it has strengthened its executive team with a number of talented leaders from some of Britain’s leading retailers. This comes after Jollyes launched its first dedicated recruitment and careers website , as it prepares for significant new store growth. The site has already generated over 7,000 applications in its first few weeks.
British brand Gandys is proud to announce the opening of its new store at 66 Neal Street in the vibrant area of Covent Garden in London. This exciting new location will showcase the best of their collections, inspired by travel, designed for longevity and crafted to be cherished for a lifetime of adventures. From sturdy waxed cotton bags and backpacks to weatherproof jackets, layering pieces and leather accessories, each item is made to see the world.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! That’s going straight in my boo basket! The time has come for shoppers to get their ghoul on ahead of Halloween, as ‘Boo Baskets‘ are the latest trend taking over TikTok with videos of over 6 million views* that show users create a bundle of Halloween-themed treats to celebrate the spookiest night of the year.
Retailers know the clock is ticking–legacy SAP Commerce support ends in 2026. Legacy platforms are becoming a liability burdened by complexity, rigidity, and mounting operational costs. But modernization isn’t just about swapping out systems, it’s about preparing for a future shaped by real-time interactions, AI powered buying assistants, and flexible commerce architecture.
Delivery giant Evri has been ranked the worst parcel firm in the UK with 44% of customers who used its services in the last six months encountering delivery problems. Evri, which rebranded from Hermes two years ago, achieved the poorest levels of customer satisfaction, despite improving from its 2023 performance to 32% over the past year, according to Ofcom.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays and complementary solutions, is delighted to announce the latest expansion of its North American business, with the grand opening of its stunning new PPDS Master Showroom experience center on the outskirts of New York City.
UNIQLO , the Japanese fashion retailer known for its minimalist designs and quality craftsmanship, is preparing to make its Liverpool debut with a 25,000-square-foot flagship store at Liverpool ONE. Set to open in early 2025 on Paradise Street, the store will join a roster of major retailers in Liverpool ONE’s prime shopping area, including BOSS, JD, and Goldsmiths.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Christmas came early for some West Ham United supporters earlier today, when the Club opened its retail pop-up shop at John Lewis, Westfield, Stratford. Shoppers in John Lewis on Tuesday lunchtime were treated to a surprise launch, attended by Club Ambassadors James Collins and Marlon Harewood, alongside Hammers fan Bianca Westwood!
AI agents already analyze trends, draft content, and trigger actions across leading commerce platforms. Yet most organizations still rely on workflows built for human‑only teams, losing speed, margin, and customer loyalty. Humans + Agents: Rethinking Enterprise Commerce in the Age of AI Collaboration shows how to close that gap. In one concise read you’ll see where agent gains surface first, how early adopters prove ROI, and which lean controls keep innovation moving without risking data or bran
Christmas came early for some West Ham United supporters earlier today, when the Club opened its retail pop-up shop at John Lewis, Westfield, Stratford. Shoppers in John Lewis on Tuesday lunchtime were treated to a surprise launch, attended by Club Ambassadors James Collins and Marlon Harewood, alongside Hammers fan Bianca Westwood! The trio, along with Club mascots Hammerhead and Bubbles, were in town to mark the official opening of the West Ham United retail pop-up unit at the John Lewis branc
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Perfect for Brits who are eager for that first festive mouthful, Asda has announced its 2024 Christmas sandwich line-up, with two new flavours forming an eight-strong range. Keen shoppers can choose from traditional staples or tap into on-trend flavours, with luxury breads, sauces and seasonings to enjoy.
Halloween brings up images of spooky costumes and haunted houses. So, here’s a question for you: Are you confident your customer service and CX won’t scare your customers away? That’s a rhetorical question. If you’ve been reading my weekly newsletters or watching my videos, it means you’ve been investing in yourselves and your company by creating an experience that doesn’t scare customers away … but it may scare your competition.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Discover this Christmas’ ultimate self-tan kit, featuring everything you need to apply and finish your tan perfectly, for both the face and body. Featuring utan’s iconic CBD Tanning Water to deliver a gorgeous facial glow.
Category Management is a cornerstone of a successful retail strategy. While it promotes collaboration between manufacturers and retailers to optimize category performance, challenges persist in its effective implementation due to hurdles in communication and collaboration across teams and partners, and more. In this guide, we outline five essential strategies for success in 2025 that will touch on all the essential pieces of a successful strategy and implementation.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! This Autumn, the UK’s leading Kefir brand, Biotiful Gut Health, launches the first-ever Brand Ambassador Programme to help Convenience stores champion Gut Health. In a campaign dubbed ‘Paint the Store Green’, category innovator Biotiful will help Convenience retailers put Gut Health centre stage.
Retail Times publishes international & UK retail news covering products, data, tech, packaging, people, research, comment and more besides! Michael Fletcher has been appointed as the new managing director of Spar UK Ltd. With over two decades of experience, he brings a wealth of knowledge from various high-profile roles within the convenience and grocery retail sectors.
Late deliveries. Split shipments. Spiraling freight costs. For home, furniture, and DIY brands, fulfillment has never been more complex—or more critical. This report outlines how a smarter, AI-ready order management system (OMS) helps you reduce shipping costs, streamline project-based fulfillment, and ensure accurate inventory across every channel.
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